COUNTER VIEW BECKY OTTERY

Following the flurry of New Year bargains, Eclectic Games’ co-owner offers a brief primer on why, when and how retailers offer clearance sales

“While games do not have a ‘sell-by’ date, shelf and stockroom space remains finite.”

Sometimes, stock doesn’t sell. I have bought and paid for games that have then gone on to sit on my shelves in an annoying and persistent fashion, while customers browse past them, time and again. Sometimes, this is an indication that I need to remerchandise my shelves, to give the slow games more prominence. Sometimes this is a sign that I made an error of judgement in ordering the game in the first place. Sometimes, this is a sign that the hype and buzz that led to my order was, to quote Shakespeare1, ‘full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’.2 Since my inventory management is based on games selling, so that I have the physical room to bring in new ones, this is an issue. Sooner or later, I will get to the point where I need that game gone from my shelves.

About Tabletop Gaming

FREE BOARD GAME INSIDE: BARBARIAN HACK
EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW
EVIL DEAD 2
We get groovy with the designers of the cult movie adaptation
MECHS VS MINIONS
Behind the making of Riot's spin-off to the World's top video game
RIVER HORSE
Bringing Labyrinth, My Little Pony and Hunger Games to the tabletop
PLAYED
Seafall, Arkham Horror LCG, Scythe and more!
PLUS
• How to build an RPG world
• Reiner Knizia
• Diversity in board games
• Introduction to Magic: The Gathering
• Delta Green
• X-Wing